Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Meghalaya State, India, with notes on seven new country records

A study of the mosquito fauna of Meghalaya State, India was carried out during August and September 2022 and between December 2023 and January 2024. A total of 3,238 specimens of 117 species, two unnamed, representing 27 genera were collected and identified. Of these, 61 species are new to the state and seven are new country records. Our study provides the most up-to-date information on the distribution of mosquito species that occur in Meghalaya State, many of which are vectors of pathogens of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya, particularly in the diverse forests of the State. These findings emphasize the significance of mosquito surveillance in Meghalaya State for monitoring the spread of mosquito-borne pathogens and planning appropriate control measures.